Everyone knows there are hundreds of choices when it comes to purchasing a protein skimmer for your aquarium.
But narrowing it down doesn't have to be a hard task.
First off, the protein skimmer is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will buy.
Do not skimp on this purchase, buy the largest most known and well performing skimmer you can afford.
When searching for a protein skimmer keep in mind that many of these are overrated for the size aquarium they can handle.
We always recommend that you buy something that can handle at least twice the size of your aquarium.
So for instance if you have a 90 gallon tank buy a skimmer rated for at least 200 gallons, this will save you many headaches in the long run of having to buy another skimmer because you bought one that was to small(i've learned the hard way).
Needlewheel, Venturi, or Beckett!?! This is a common question and isn't really that hard to decide between the two.
Many people are biased on the different methods and swear by what they have used.
All of them perform very well if you purchase the right brand.
If you were to ask me I would say needlewheel all the way, as the skimmers using this method today are the best performing skimmers I have used.
When you are ready to take the plunge be sure to research your purchase, there are hundreds of resources on the net to help you with your decision.
Make sure you buy from a reputable company.
Stay away from company's that mass produce every type of aquarium product available as these products are usually low quality cheaply made products.
Go with a company who specializes in a few products and has proven results.
In essence, if you really want to have a successful tank a protein skimmer can be one of the most important purchases you will invest in.
Do not go cheap on your protein skimmer or you will regret it in the end.
Buy from reputable companies who know their stuff and have been specializing in these products for years.
And don't forget have fun and take care of your animals, we are the reef's futures so do your best to promote proper husbandry.